Pehlwani

• 1. Origins And Etymology

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  The word pehlwani derives from the Persian term pahlavani, meaning heroic or warrior. In India, this title refers specifically to a wrestler. The sport itself emerged during the Mughal Empire through a fusion of Persian Koshti pahlevani and native Indian Malla-yuddha traditions. A practitioner is called a pehlwan, while teachers are known as ustad or guru. These terms reflect the deep cultural roots connecting physical strength with spiritual discipline. The ancient form of wrestling in India dates back to at least the 5th millennium BC. It was described in the 13th century treatise Malla Purana. References also appear in the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics. In Persian literature, the Shahnama features Rustam, the greatest wrestler of that tradition. By the 16th century, northern India had been conquered by Central Asian Mughals of Turko-Mongol descent. Their influence gradually replaced local malla-yuddha with Persian Koshti. Yet elements of the older tradition survived within the akhara, or wrestling academy.

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• 2. Historical Evolution

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  During the late 17th century, Ramadasa traveled across the country encouraging Hindus to be physically active in homage to Hanuman. Maratha rulers supported Kushti by offering large sums of prize money for tournament champions. Every Maratha boy could wrestle, and even women took up the sport. During the colonial period, local princes sustained popularity by hosting matches and competitions. Wrestling was the favorite spectator sport of the Rajputs, who looked forward to tournaments with great anxiety. Each Rajput prince maintained a number of wrestling champions for entertainment. The greatest centers were Uttar Pradesh and the Panjab region. In 1909, Bengali merchant Abdul Jabbar Saudagar held a wrestling tournament called Jabbar-er Boli Khela to unite youth against British rule. This competition continues today every Boishakhi Mela in Bangladesh. It is one of Chittagong's oldest traditions, accompanied by traditional sanai flutes and dabor drums. India reached its peak glory at the IV Asian Games in Jakarta in 1962 when all seven wrestlers won medals. They secured twelve total medals in freestyle and Greco-Roman styles. Eight wrestlers sent to the Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica also earned medals. During the 1960s, India ranked among the top nine wrestling nations globally. The country hosted world championships in New Delhi in 1967.

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• 3. Legendary Practitioners

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  The Great Gama, born Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt, stands as one of the most famous practitioners of Pehlwani. He became known as Rustam-e-Zaman after defeating Stanislaus Zbyszko in London in 1910. Other notable figures include Kodi Rammurthy Naidu and Brahmdev Mishra. In Punjab during the 1930s, around five hundred skilled wrestlers practiced, mostly Sikhs or Muslims. Kala Partapa and Gora Partapa were renowned heavyweights in Malwa region during the late 1880s. Goonga Pahelwan defeated Gama's nephew, Gama Kalloo, in 1918, causing a major stir. Balbir Singh Kanwal has authored multiple books on Punjabi wrestling history. Dara Singh from Punjab held the Rustam-e-Hind title. Vishnupant Nagrale was the first wrestler ever to hold this prestigious honor. Hamida Banu received an exclusive unofficial title called Amazon of Aligarh in the early 20th century. Karl Gotch, a legendary wrestler from another era, toured India to learn Kushti. He was gifted heavy wooden clubs used for building arm and shoulder muscles by South Asian wrestlers. These conditioning exercises have since been incorporated into catch wrestling and shoot wrestling systems.

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• 4. Training Regimens

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  Physical training in Pehlwani is referred to as virayam. The regimen has remained largely unchanged for over 150 years despite historical shifts. Many renowned pahelwans were born into wrestling families where sons learned from fathers from an early age. Fledgling wrestlers may start as young as six but most begin formal training in their teens. They enter an akhara under the apprenticeship of a local guru. Their only attire during practice is the kowpeenam or loincloth. A typical day begins at 3 AM with press-ups called danda and squats known as bethak. Wrestlers perform up to four thousand repetitions before running five miles. Swimming follows, then lifting stone and sandbags. At 8 AM, teachers observe trainees wrestle each other continuously for three hours. This involves around twenty-five matches starting with seniors and ending with juniors. An oil massage precedes rest time at 11 AM. Another session occurs at 4 PM after a second massage. Exercises include Surya Namaskara, shirshasana, and the danda from hatha yoga. Sawari uses another person's body weight to add resistance. Some techniques involve turning the shaft of a Saqiyah water-drawing device for prolonged periods.

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• 5. Dietary Philosophy

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  According to Samkhya school philosophy, all things including foods fall into three gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas. Wrestling has inherently rajasic nature which pehlwan counteract through consuming sattvic foods. Milk and ghee are considered the most sattvic items along with almonds. These form the holy trinity of pehlwani khurak diet. Chickpeas sprouted overnight in water and seasoned with salt, pepper, and lemon serve as common snacks. The water used for sprouting is also regarded as nutritious. Indian wrestling monthly Bharatiya Kushti recommends apples, wood-apples, bananas, figs, pomegranates, gooseberries, lemons, and watermelons. Orange juice and green vegetables are advised for their sattvic qualities. Many pehlwan eat meat due to high protein content. Famed wrestler Dara Singh consumed more than one pound of meat daily. Wrestlers avoid sour or excessively spiced foods like chatni and achar. Mild seasoning with garlic, cumin, coriander, and turmeric remains acceptable. Alcohol, tobacco, and paan consumption are strongly discouraged throughout training cycles.

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• 6. Competitive Rules

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  Wrestling competitions known as dangal occur in villages with variable formats. The arena measures at least fourteen feet across in circular or square shapes. South Asian wrestlers train and compete on dirt floors rather than modern mats. Before training begins, the floor gets raked clean of pebbles or stones. Buttermilk, oil, and red ochre sprinkle onto the ground giving it a distinctive red hue. Water adds consistency every few days keeping it soft enough to prevent injury yet firm enough for movement. Every match starts with wrestlers throwing handfuls of dirt from the floor on themselves and opponents as blessing. Competitors may go outside marked boundaries without penalty during bouts. No rounds exist; each bout lasts about twenty-five to thirty minutes unless extended by agreement. Extensions typically add ten to fifteen additional minutes. Unlike mat-based styles, no point scoring system exists here. Victory comes from pinning opponent's shoulders and hips simultaneously though knockout or submission also works. In some variations, pinning only shoulders suffices for win. Bouts feature referees inside rings and panels of two judges watching from outside.

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